Victim In Racially-Motivated Beating Sues Brainerd Bar

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The 53-year-old man who was severely beaten in a racially-motivated assault is now suing the Brainerd bar where the incident occurred.

Two men were sentenced to prison for the Feb. 6, 2011 hate crime that left Willie Navy with fractured facial bones, partial vision loss in his left eye, permanent facial disfigurement and a neck injury.

Lucas Eastwood, 28, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, while Travis Campbell, 30, is serving six years.

According to the charges, Eastwood and Campbell punched and kicked Navy because he was black.

In a press release from the Lastovich Law Office, Navy’s lawyers state he is bringing civil claims against the Yesterday’s Gone bar in Brainerd, Minn., where the assault occurred. Navy is asking for $750,000 from the bar and its insurers.

The release states Navy incurred nearly $50,000 in medical bills and claims the bar knew the attack was about to happen and did nothing to stop it.

Before the two white men assaulted Navy outside the bar, Eastwood allegedly told the bartender he wanted to beat Navy up and asked if he had his back.

Navy said he believes if the bartender warned him about the attack, the beating could have been avoided.

Attorney Steve Lastovich of the Lastovich Law Office states that under Minnesota law a bar has a legal duty to its patrons in a situation like this and it was the obligation of the bartender to warn Navy, call police or eject the patrons causing trouble.

Eastwood and Campbell also admitted in a criminal proceeding to being under the influence at the time of the incident after being served at Yesterday’s Gone. Lastovich said the bar could also be liable for over serving both men.